Well-Led Schools

Workload continues to be a top stressor for staff in schools across Australia. Yet, reducing workload feels like a daunting task when there are growing staff shortages, when student behaviour is more concerning than ever before, and when departmental directives mean more tasks are added to everybody’s plate.   While it may feel like there is no way around this issue, I want to reassure you there i...

Staff wellbeing continues to be a hot topic in education circles but one question that comes up time and time and again is - is staff wellbeing the leaders’ or the staff’s responsibility? And while there are fair points to be made for both sides, the answer remains that it’s a joint responsibility. Leaders, teachers and school staff each have responsibilities to uphold which will ultimately contri...

In this episode, I chat with fellow school wellbeing consultant Aimee Parkinson where we exchange ideas on our approach to coaching educators hoping to foster a culture of wellbeing at their school.    About Aimee:  After spending over 12 years in the education system as both a school leader and educator, Aimee saw first-hand how well-being easily becomes a low-level priority when other pressing m...

In episode 24 of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am pulling this conversation from the vault. I was joined on the podcast at the beginning of the year by Rob Lans - school principal and expert on leading schools with wellbeing in mind.  As we roll into the second half of the year, many schools will be focusing on ways to improve staff wellbeing yet, without a carefully planned out and focused appro...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, I am joined by Michael Sloan, long time educator and the current school principal at Denison College - Kelso Campus in Bathurst, Australia. Mick enrolled his school in the Well-Led Schools Partnership program last year and since then, I’ve seen them make huge strides toward embedding a culture of wellbeing at their school. So far, we’ve ran a school...

The foundation for problem-solving lies in gaining a thorough understanding of the issue at hand. By delving deep into the problem, we can develop effective solutions that address the root causes rather than merely providing temporary fixes. In this episode, I introduce a concept called the "school scan of wellbeing." This exercise involves examining various pieces of data to uncover valuable insi...

Constant exhaustion, chronic stress and anxiety, and physical symptoms like headaches and digestive issues are just some of the signs that you may be suffering from burnout. In today’s demanding world, many professionals struggle to balance life and work, and self-care is often pushed to the bottom of the priority list.  School leaders, teachers and staff are particularly susceptible to burnout. O...

Self-care is so much more than bubble baths and face masks… The self-care that really makes a difference in our resilience involves developing a deep sense of self-awareness and the ability to advocate for what we truly need to flourish and thrive in life and at work.  In this episode, I am joined by educator and teacher wellbeing coach, Ellen Ronalds Keene where we exchange anecdotes and ideas ab...

Teaching is regarded as one of the most stressful professions in Australia, and navigating the shifts brought on by the pandemic has only amplified these feelings for staff.  Chronic stress ultimately leads to teacher burnout and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. A study based on Australian school teachers reported that teachers are more depressed and anxious than the average A...

In episode 18 of the Well-Led Schools podcast, I am joined by Violetta Znorkowsky, a leadership mentor, meditation/mindfulness teacher, holistic counsellor, experiential educator and the founder of Expand and Impact. In the episode, Violetta shares powerful insights into what it really takes to feel a sense of emotional wellbeing and the importance of developing skills like self-awareness, emotion...

Do you feel satisfied and fulfilled in your career? In episode 17 of the Well-Led Schools podcast, I am joined by recruiting strategist and career wellbeing expert Deb Houston. Career or occupational wellbeing indicates being satisfied with our jobs and career paths and feeling fulfilled in this aspect of our lives. It’s also about being involved in work that provides satisfaction and aligns us wi...

Are you connected to your highest self?  In episode 16 of the Well-Led Schools podcast we dive into the spiritual dimension of wellbeing alongside the lovely Harmony Robinson-Stagg.  Spiritual wellbeing pertains to the search for purpose and meaning in life. Spirituality doesn’t necessary refer to religion in this context, although the two certainly are linked, it could also include a belief in a...

Let’s talk about money, shall we? Continuing on with the dimensions of wellbeing series, in episode 15 of the Well-Led School podcast, I am joined by stock advisor and financial wellbeing expert, Jon Moses.    About Jon: Jon Moses is the owner of JM Investments, a full-service stockbroking firm that provides a personalised service with an ethical footprint. With over a decade of experience working...

Are you doing enough to support your physical wellbeing? Episode 14 of the Well-Led Schools podcast is the first of our dimensions of wellbeing series where I will be chatting with experts in each area of wellbeing. To kick off the series, we’ll be starting with physical wellbeing where I am joined by my good friend and clinical nutritionist, Solaine Douglas.    About Solaine:  After experiencing...

We hear the word “wellbeing” thrown around a lot these days, but few fully understand what it entails. Is it perhaps an absence of disease or illness? Or something more complex than that? In my opinion, wellbeing is certainly complex and the multi-dimensional model of wellbeing that I introduce in this episode will demonstrate that it goes beyond just being in good physical and emotional health, i...

While you may think you know what challenges your staff are facing and what they need to thrive in the workplace - you won’t really know for sure unless you ask them.  And while you’ve probably made an honest effort to provide your teachers and staff with more support, you may be wondering why so many are still struggling with or on the brink of burnout.  Our national data collected from schools a...

Have staff wellbeing initiatives you’ve offered in the past left you feeling disappointed that nothing changed or improved? One mistake leaders often make is assuming they know what staff need or want, but the only way to know for sure is to ask them BEFORE we act. When it comes to overhauling a whole school’s culture, we must have staff buy-in, and in order to achieve that, we need to involve the...

In the 10th episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am joined by school principal and Positive Psychology advocate David Kolpak. Leading a school culture where both staff and student wellbeing is front and centre requires strong leadership capability, the relevant personal attributes and emotional intelligence. David encompasses these very qualities and in this episode he breaks down his approac...

In this episode of the Well-Led School podcast, I am joined by change leadership expert and author of the book Valuable Change , Brendon Baker. We discuss what it really takes to inspire and create meaningful change within workplaces and schools and how simple mindset shifts, like how we define success, can lead us towards the changes in culture we seek.    About Brendon Brendon is a leading exper...

Social events, morning teas and the one-off wellbeing workshop can only do so much to improve staff wellbeing and school culture. While they’re well-intentioned, these initiatives only target the very surface of the daily challenges school staff face. We need to take a deeper look at the underlying and systemic reasons why staff may be suffering from chronic stress and burnout. Once identified, so...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am joined by Corey Tavella, Principal of Thomas More College in South Australia where, together, we’ll be exploring the guiding principles of ‘Well-Led’ schools.  When adopted and applied, these principles can help schools to “lead with wellbeing in mind,” begin to transform the culture from within and better influence positive outcomes in student...

Whether staff are constantly calling in sick, struggling to bounce back post-pandemic or you are experiencing pushback on new ideas, the pressure of an increasing workload and challenging students can stop progress in its tracks. What we need in schools is an approach that plans for and considers the multiple elements required to increase staff psychological safety. Where to find such an approach?...

You can‘t expect changes to magically happen without a clear vision and an action plan.  In episode 5 of the Well-Led Schools podcast I delve into why having a vision is a foundational step in creating a school culture that prioritises wellbeing.  If there is no bigger picture vision for your school, staff end up confused and giving in to the environmental pressures that are the strongest in your...

A culture of wellbeing starts at the top.  It’s impossible to resolve staff wellbeing woes if the leaders in a school are experiencing chronic and unmanaged stress or burnout. The state of leader wellbeing can go on to impact the wellbeing and performance of both staff and students. So, when wanting to create a culture that prioritises wellbeing, it’s important that leaders take a self-reflective...

In episode 2 of the Well-Led Schools podcast, school wellbeing consultant, Adrienne Hornby is joined by school principal, Rob Lans for a lively chat surrounding the relationship between student behaviour management and staff and student wellbeing. With many staff across schools reporting student behaviour as one of their top stressors, it’s only fitting that we address the link between the two.  R...